PRESTWICK, Scotland (June 29, 2006) - ETSU rising senior Rhys Davies (Bridgend, Wales) and his European teammates dominated on the first day of the 10th Palmer Cup at the Prestwick Golf Club, taking a 10-2 advantage Thursday following the morning four-ball session and the afternoon singles matches.

Davies won both of his points for the Europeans, improving his overall record in Palmer Cup play to 5-4-1. Davies and teammate Richard Ramsey defeated American's Ryan Blaum and Ryan Baca, 6 and 4, in the morning session, and Davies later defeated Blaum, 4 and 3, in the afternoon. Davies jumped out to a 4-up lead over Blaum after nine holes with wins at the second, fifth, seventh and ninth. Blaum narrowed the gap to two holes with pars at Nos. 11 and 12, but Davies claimed the next two holes and clinched the win by halving the 15th.

The Americans claimed their first point when Ryan Baca defeated Mark Haastrup, 3 and 2. Baca birdied No. 2 and parred the fifth, sixth and 11th to go up four holes, but Haastrup claimed the next two holes to cut the lead in half. Baca extended the lead back to three with a par at No. 15 and won the match when both players parred No. 16.